I'd been planning this solo camp for the past week. For the day prior, and on the day, I was having last minute nerves about going which probably didn't help the trip later on..
I set off from home at 3:30pm and was on my way from the Storey Arms car park at about 4:00pm. The fog was moderate with I would say about 20-30m visibility. At this point my nerves were gone and I felt that feeling you feel being on the mountains. I took it easy as I wasn't particularly concerned with time and I didn't want to get too hot and sweaty. I reached Pen Y Fan summit at around 5:40pm. On the way up, I had 2 groups of people, who were first timers up this mountain asking for directions down. I chatted with both groups and advised about learning how to use and carrying a map & compass.
At Pen Y Fan summit, the fog had gotten more dense so I took a bearing to Cribyn. There is a path to Cribyn but it was extra peace of mind. As I reached the ascent to Cribyn, visibility was now down to probably 10 or 20m. I had planned to camp on the ledge below Cribyn but the fog was now dense enough that I could not make out where the ledge was. I'd been climbing for a fair while and guessed that I had likely passed the ledge. So I got my map out and checked the altitude of the ledge- 720m. I took an altitude reading from my Suunto watch- 770m, so I knew I had gone too far. I descended until my watch showed 720m and I found the ledge where I was to camp.
I set up my new tent, a Hilleberg Akto, and I double pegged for peace of mind. The wind was constant and moderate, the fog was thick. I had full confidence in the tent as they have an extensive history and I have seen videos of the Akto in 80mph winds, but still it was a new tent to me so I was to be cautious. There was nothing to see out so I got straight into my tent, laid out my sleeping gear which comprised of a simple closed cell foam mat and my new Rab Neutrino 700 sleeping bag and then I put on some food.
At this point I was anxious and even though I had just completed a moderately difficult hike I did not feel hungry, but I knew that I had to eat to replenish energy levels. I fried onions and cooked a burger infused in a garlic seasoning that I had bought from a local farm shop and it was beautiful. I had a small pack of cherry sweets for desert. I just about had enough signal to send some messages to my girlfriend and received a voice note from my girlfriend and my son which was nice but strangely made me feel lonely. At about 9pm I decided to get some sleep as I was planning to leave at first sun. From here on it got progressively windier.
My anxiety was sky high, I couldn't relax and certainly couldn't sleep. This was the worst weather I had been out in, I was tired, I couldn't sleep and perhaps irrationally I felt I would rather be making my way back than stuck in the tent struggling to sleep, even though I knew the safest option was to stay where I was until first sun. So at about 1:00am I decided to pack up and get down the mountain.
I knew my location on the map and knew I was maybe only 10 or 20m from the path but the visibility was now so low that I could see my feet and maybe 5 metres ahead so I took a bearing to the path as in the opposite direction I was probably 10 or 20m from the cliff edge. I moved slowly and found the path, and took another bearing to Pen Y Fan although I knew I was following the path in the right direction as it was downhill. I reached Pen Y Fan, there is a short section of steep rock to scramble so I knew when I was there. Immediately I was hit with practically zero visibility and struggling to find any sort of path. So I stopped, took out my map and took a bearing to the Cairn. I knew if I could find the Cairn that I could take a bearing to Corn Du which would get me down and back on to the main path. I followed my bearing but I made a major mistake.. I should have taken a distance reading but I didn't. I could not locate the Cairn, that's how low the visibility was, I simply could not find it. I walked very slowly, one step and look around, there are cliff edges that would result in certain death. I could feel panic hit me so I stopped immediately, took a knee to gather my thoughts. I calmed myself down and thought logically. I could set up my tent at Pen Y Fan if needs be and weather it out until first light. I decided that I knew my approximate location so I was just to take a bearing from the map at Pen Y Fan to Corn Du and that should get me down. It did, I found the main path, I kept an eye on my watch to make sure I was descending, I was.
I kept left of the path as I wanted to walk around Corn Du which was much safer. The next hurdle was the other side of Corn Du where there's an intersection. There's the path that I'm on, a path back up to Corn Du, a path to Pont Ar Daf and a path that takes you on the Horseshoe circuit. Again, visibility was that low, I could not see all of the paths. So again I take out my map and take another bearing from the intersection to Pont Ar Daf. I'm walking blind with only my compass to follow. I start to feel myself walking up hill so I check my watch to confirm altitude- I'm on the wrong path! I turn around and follow the path back, I keep an eye on my altitude, keeping left on the path. Altitude levels out and then begins to rise so I know I must be on my way up to Corn Du. I summarised that If I could find the path up to Corn Du all I would have to do is turn around and keep right of the path which would take me down to Pont Ar Daf. My compass was already set on a bearing to Pont Ar Daf so I stuck to the right of the path, keeping an eye on my altitude, I was descending past the lowest point I had preciously recorded, I was on the right path! The rest of the walk down went uninterrupted bar the odd sheep which by the way frighten the life out of you as they seemingly appear from nowhere out of the fog! I made it down at about 03:30am and home by 04:00am.
I understand the risk I took, and that risk was potentially fatal. I have never experienced those conditions before and it was a real test of both my navigation skills and my mental resolve. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the little story and here are a few photos to compliment it..
The journey up started only moderately foggy..
But got heavier as we ascended..
Taking a bearing at Pen Y Fan..
The start of the ascent to Cribyn..
The shelf below Cribyn where I set up camp
Dinner..
My new Rab Neutrino 700 was lovely and warm, even a little too warm for current temperatures.
This was the moment I reached Pen Y Fan. Taking a bearing to the Cairn..
Taking a bearing at Pen Y Fan. As you can see, visibility is perhaps 5m max, it looked even worse in person.
I set off from home at 3:30pm and was on my way from the Storey Arms car park at about 4:00pm. The fog was moderate with I would say about 20-30m visibility. At this point my nerves were gone and I felt that feeling you feel being on the mountains. I took it easy as I wasn't particularly concerned with time and I didn't want to get too hot and sweaty. I reached Pen Y Fan summit at around 5:40pm. On the way up, I had 2 groups of people, who were first timers up this mountain asking for directions down. I chatted with both groups and advised about learning how to use and carrying a map & compass.
At Pen Y Fan summit, the fog had gotten more dense so I took a bearing to Cribyn. There is a path to Cribyn but it was extra peace of mind. As I reached the ascent to Cribyn, visibility was now down to probably 10 or 20m. I had planned to camp on the ledge below Cribyn but the fog was now dense enough that I could not make out where the ledge was. I'd been climbing for a fair while and guessed that I had likely passed the ledge. So I got my map out and checked the altitude of the ledge- 720m. I took an altitude reading from my Suunto watch- 770m, so I knew I had gone too far. I descended until my watch showed 720m and I found the ledge where I was to camp.
I set up my new tent, a Hilleberg Akto, and I double pegged for peace of mind. The wind was constant and moderate, the fog was thick. I had full confidence in the tent as they have an extensive history and I have seen videos of the Akto in 80mph winds, but still it was a new tent to me so I was to be cautious. There was nothing to see out so I got straight into my tent, laid out my sleeping gear which comprised of a simple closed cell foam mat and my new Rab Neutrino 700 sleeping bag and then I put on some food.
At this point I was anxious and even though I had just completed a moderately difficult hike I did not feel hungry, but I knew that I had to eat to replenish energy levels. I fried onions and cooked a burger infused in a garlic seasoning that I had bought from a local farm shop and it was beautiful. I had a small pack of cherry sweets for desert. I just about had enough signal to send some messages to my girlfriend and received a voice note from my girlfriend and my son which was nice but strangely made me feel lonely. At about 9pm I decided to get some sleep as I was planning to leave at first sun. From here on it got progressively windier.
My anxiety was sky high, I couldn't relax and certainly couldn't sleep. This was the worst weather I had been out in, I was tired, I couldn't sleep and perhaps irrationally I felt I would rather be making my way back than stuck in the tent struggling to sleep, even though I knew the safest option was to stay where I was until first sun. So at about 1:00am I decided to pack up and get down the mountain.
I knew my location on the map and knew I was maybe only 10 or 20m from the path but the visibility was now so low that I could see my feet and maybe 5 metres ahead so I took a bearing to the path as in the opposite direction I was probably 10 or 20m from the cliff edge. I moved slowly and found the path, and took another bearing to Pen Y Fan although I knew I was following the path in the right direction as it was downhill. I reached Pen Y Fan, there is a short section of steep rock to scramble so I knew when I was there. Immediately I was hit with practically zero visibility and struggling to find any sort of path. So I stopped, took out my map and took a bearing to the Cairn. I knew if I could find the Cairn that I could take a bearing to Corn Du which would get me down and back on to the main path. I followed my bearing but I made a major mistake.. I should have taken a distance reading but I didn't. I could not locate the Cairn, that's how low the visibility was, I simply could not find it. I walked very slowly, one step and look around, there are cliff edges that would result in certain death. I could feel panic hit me so I stopped immediately, took a knee to gather my thoughts. I calmed myself down and thought logically. I could set up my tent at Pen Y Fan if needs be and weather it out until first light. I decided that I knew my approximate location so I was just to take a bearing from the map at Pen Y Fan to Corn Du and that should get me down. It did, I found the main path, I kept an eye on my watch to make sure I was descending, I was.
I kept left of the path as I wanted to walk around Corn Du which was much safer. The next hurdle was the other side of Corn Du where there's an intersection. There's the path that I'm on, a path back up to Corn Du, a path to Pont Ar Daf and a path that takes you on the Horseshoe circuit. Again, visibility was that low, I could not see all of the paths. So again I take out my map and take another bearing from the intersection to Pont Ar Daf. I'm walking blind with only my compass to follow. I start to feel myself walking up hill so I check my watch to confirm altitude- I'm on the wrong path! I turn around and follow the path back, I keep an eye on my altitude, keeping left on the path. Altitude levels out and then begins to rise so I know I must be on my way up to Corn Du. I summarised that If I could find the path up to Corn Du all I would have to do is turn around and keep right of the path which would take me down to Pont Ar Daf. My compass was already set on a bearing to Pont Ar Daf so I stuck to the right of the path, keeping an eye on my altitude, I was descending past the lowest point I had preciously recorded, I was on the right path! The rest of the walk down went uninterrupted bar the odd sheep which by the way frighten the life out of you as they seemingly appear from nowhere out of the fog! I made it down at about 03:30am and home by 04:00am.
I understand the risk I took, and that risk was potentially fatal. I have never experienced those conditions before and it was a real test of both my navigation skills and my mental resolve. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the little story and here are a few photos to compliment it..
The journey up started only moderately foggy..
But got heavier as we ascended..
Taking a bearing at Pen Y Fan..
The start of the ascent to Cribyn..
The shelf below Cribyn where I set up camp
Dinner..
My new Rab Neutrino 700 was lovely and warm, even a little too warm for current temperatures.
This was the moment I reached Pen Y Fan. Taking a bearing to the Cairn..
Taking a bearing at Pen Y Fan. As you can see, visibility is perhaps 5m max, it looked even worse in person.
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